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Topic: question on connections for starter motor

in Forum: C3 Electrical


question on connections for starter motor

Posted: 6/1/08 5:26pm Message 1 of 10
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MARYSVILLE, WA - USA
Joined: 10/22/2006
Posts: 129
Vette(s): 1976 stingray, L48 COUPE, TH350 Automatic WITH A ZZ4 355 HP 350 C.I. MOTOR, 750 cfm HOLLY, EXTERIOR RED, INTERIOR BUCKSKIN, SMOKE BLACK GLASS TEE TOPS.
Can someone please help me on the correct wire connections to the starter motor on my 76?
I'm installing my ZZ4 and I'm finally down to the wiring connections. It's taken me so long to get to this point I can't remember what wires go whereConfused.
I have connected the positive battery cable to the large stud on the starter and have 1 larger red wire and two other wires one black and one that has a barrel looking filter in line on it with orange wire.
The solinoid has two small studs on it with one marked 'red" and one marked "s". I'm not sure what wires go where. They all have large termals on them big enough to go on the large stud where I attached the positive cable??? maybe bubba at work here? The wiring diagram I have shows red and black wires connecting at same point but I can't tell what that means? I also noticed another black wire with a small termal long enough to reach the solinoid as well but can't  tell if it should also connect to the starter or what it should connect to. HELP PLEASE!!



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question on connections for starter motor

Posted: 6/1/08 7:32pm Message 2 of 10
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Littleton, CO - USA
Joined: 2/5/2006
Posts: 50
Vette(s): 76 corvette, L-48, Flame Red
On my 76, the battery cable, and other wires (including the fusible link) attached to the larger terminal all go on the large stud of the solenoid.  There is a purple wire (may be sheathed in insulation) that goes on the starter terminal (the one closest to the block).  There is nothing attached to the outside terminal of the solenoid.  I believe this terminal used to carry a yellow wire to the coil so it would see full voltage during cranking, but was eliminated when these cars were equipped with HEI.
 
Hope that helps.



question on connections for starter motor

Posted: 6/1/08 7:39pm Message 3 of 10
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And the black with the large terminal is a ground which connects at the bell housing bolt closest to the starter.


question on connections for starter motor

Posted: 6/1/08 7:44pm Message 4 of 10
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
                                                 

If the wire terminals have large eyelets, they should go on the same, center terminal of the solenoid as the batt. cable, except the small black wire with the large terminal...it is a ground.
There should indeed be a smaller, purple wire on the inner terminal, closest to the engine block. The "barrel looking filter" is a fuse link...you should see several of them in that area.
If you look closer at the solenoid terminals, you'll see that the one to the outside is marked "Res", not "Red", and it is for the coil on point-type ignitions, which your '76 never had. It does provide a full 12v to the coil when cranking, as Tom states.

hthAdams' Apple2008-06-01 19:46:04


Joel Adams
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question on connections for starter motor

Posted: 6/2/08 10:44am Message 5 of 10
Former Member
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MARYSVILLE, WA - USA
Joined: 10/22/2006
Posts: 129
Vette(s): 1976 stingray, L48 COUPE, TH350 Automatic WITH A ZZ4 355 HP 350 C.I. MOTOR, 750 cfm HOLLY, EXTERIOR RED, INTERIOR BUCKSKIN, SMOKE BLACK GLASS TEE TOPS.
Thanks Gentlemen!Smile I knew I would get the help from this team......I will resume the installation and will surely have more electrical questions before I'm done with the wiring connections.  Could the purple wire look as though it were black? It's the only one that has a small terminal that would look like it should be connected to the solinoid outer stud.


question on connections for starter motor

Posted: 6/2/08 7:31pm Message 6 of 10
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
The purple wire is a good sized wire...not sure what gauge it is off-hand, but it should be a dark-ish purple. You may need to wipe it down a little with something like WD-40, etc, and see what the color is. It's also possible someone has spliced into it with a black wire...ya just never know. You really should have only the one smaller wire in the harness there, except for the black ground wire, which should definitely NOT be put on the solenoid!
The black wire should have a large eyelet on it, so a 3/8" bolt will fit thru it.
The purple wire will have a smaller eyelet on it, around 5/32" or so...
The purple wire must go on the terminal closest to the engine...the inside terminal of the solenoid, and there will be nothing on the outer terminal of the solenoid.


Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    

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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

question on connections for starter motor

Posted: 6/3/08 6:43am Message 7 of 10
Former Member
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MARYSVILLE, WA - USA
Joined: 10/22/2006
Posts: 129
Vette(s): 1976 stingray, L48 COUPE, TH350 Automatic WITH A ZZ4 355 HP 350 C.I. MOTOR, 750 cfm HOLLY, EXTERIOR RED, INTERIOR BUCKSKIN, SMOKE BLACK GLASS TEE TOPS.
Ok Joel, I think I got it nowClap Thanks for the instruction......I'm learning all about my C3 and when this project is completed I should be able to possibily help another member out (at least for a 76) by adding responces to help needed in the future.
Thanks againBig%20smile



question on connections for starter motor

Posted: 6/3/08 10:24am Message 8 of 10
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
Hope ya get it all figured out, Carl!
btw...if you do happen to mistakenly put the black ground wire on the solenoid, it will keep your wipers from working...and a couple of other things too....


Joel Adams
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             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

question on connections for starter motor

Posted: 6/3/08 11:17am Message 9 of 10
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Oviedo, FL - USA
Joined: 9/8/2006
Posts: 267
Vette(s): 1977 t-top
Am I safe in saying same wiring for my 77,auto,l-48?


question on connections for starter motor

Posted: 6/3/08 7:06pm Message 10 of 10
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
Yep...pretty much...


Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    

My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)
             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

in Forum: C3 Electrical


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